The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-09

| ~AesSsA'o ~ApoosAoNAoA phuquos hAy JILL
failed to answer to, although It was pre-
pared the day before. Owing, however
TO my proatration on the march OF tina
day, which II you remember was warm
1902 In the shade, 1 was unable to de
liver it. My travelling friends say tn,
toast must be published as In some wsy
they found 1t was partly historical, and Il
please the boys I submit 1t herewith:
Auld Lang Syne.
Gentlemen:-While I am somewhat of I
physician, 1t will be hard, and may ga,
impossible for me 10 instill new life int
the past, sufficient to keep pace with the
present. However with my limited time
will endeRvor to give you some eariy
history OF business troublea and pleasures
pertaining Herewith and say a few kind
words in favor oil the commercial travellers
Of the past. While our travelling con.
veyances were not 80 good as at the pres.
emit time our enjoyments were none the
less pleasant, and filled with interesting
incidents, OF which l could give yoa
many. But the following suggested itself,
which | experienced at an early date,
about 1862 or 1858. l will undertake to
rotate itas brieiss possible without egotism,
but as commercial traveller. In those
days travelled on horseback and carried
sampled Of merchandise in q saddls.bsp
similar to those OF a country doctor.
l was quietly riding along from Sum.
merfeld to Sarahsyille, Noble county,
Ohio, and alter passing a log cabin, near
by the road side, young girl, apparently
as fleet as deer and as pretty as gazelle,
came running after me, and calling to me
stop, stop, Doctor. Please come back my
dad is dying from cramp."
! suppose by my saddle bags l must
have been taken for travelling doctor,
which was common in those days. con.
cluded it WAS best to return and II the old
man WAS dangerously Ill could ride for a
doctor back to Summerfeid.
At this period OF my life had sprink.
ling Of fun and some grit in my compost.
ton. On our way back l questioned the
girl as to the cause OF dads cramp, and
her answers led Inc to believe he was not
dangerous. After entering tho house
walked up to the. bedside and took hold Of
the sold mans wrist and asked him to please
stick out his tongue, which saw at once
indicated no fever, but was clean except
slightly stained with old time tobacco,
commonly called dog-leg in those days. /
took in the situation Of the old man at
first sight. l suppose commenced to
look wise and appeared very anxious
about the old mans condition, like all
quaCk doctots do on sudden call, l
ordered them to give me some CAYENNE
and black pepper with lump of butter.
Much to my surprise they happened to
have come Of each in the house. mixed
heavy, hot dose, one.third each. l said
somewhat seriously, "here my old friend,
is my celebrated Volcanic Lava Balm. It
has never failed to cure cramps Of the
bowela, and intuse new warmth into tho
Blood,
The old man took it down in one
draught. 1t was 80 hot it strangled him.
! was staggered ct first, seeing him gasp
ing for breath, and l was somewhat
frightened. But fortunately for me I had
flask Of good whisky in my saddle bags,
which got and poured ont one Of those
old style blue coffee cups full, and said in
sincere manner, "Here, old man, drink
it ell down at once" which he did without
batting an eye. It worked like a charm.
The old man was soon up and shook him.
self and said, doctor, that Volcanic Balm
OF yours is hotter than the fiery furnace !;
but bless you, Doctor, it saved my life,
and l can gladly recommendit, and Il you
ever come this way again, stop, and will
fill the blue coffee cup" That was the
proudest act Of my life, as incidentally it
associated me with the good Samaritan,
l will now reveree the picture and give
you come of the troubles and sorrows OF a
commercial aalesman's life. An incident,
very vivid at the present time, and which
wish never to forget owing to the $780,
Citations, happened about 1854. l was
travelling along from Sewells to Fairview,
Ohio, over d road all travellers know,
which in the month Of February is the
worst road on earth. About half way DO.
tween the two towns l met my friend A,
Uranium, Esq, same class of business as
myaelf, trying to lay up "a penny for moth
and rust to destroy, but who since has
honorably settled accounts and passed
away to heavenly rest. We met in as
severesnorthwestern snow storm as lever
experienced. 1t was on ridge that we
atopped. The storm had all the adyan.
tage in the fight, but it couldn't knock
us out. Our poor horses stood in, mud
knee deep, trembling with cold, but We
were bound to have our short chat, as our
boys OF to-day as then, never mind the
weaihtr. Mr.. Brannum's first remark WAS,
Bloomfield, We must have done some.
thing yesterday not aquare with our
customers to be caught in such
weather" Unanswered if am guilty its
too cold to remember. But can answer
for you, II you are guilty it's your first
offence, ! am sure. l have found you
always an honorable competitor and good
reports from all merchants as a square
sslesmnn. My friend Brannum, after we
parted had to face the storm, but he was
blessed physically to do go, and morally
blessed with conscience to make him an
honorable, upright, square competitor.
His memory should be shining mark for
commercial aalesmen Of to-day to be led
by. We sslesmen Of carly days often me!
with pleasure by tho way side, particu.
larly when We struck a country dance OF
an Apple Bee. These social and merry
gatherings have passed away, and many
Of my old companions have handed in col
lectionH, balanced accounts, and laid down
for rest eternal.
As look over the field Of to-day can
only see few left that can say, have
Travelled In the past, and II necessity re-.
quired could pick up their grips and cit.
With great pride and pleasure give their
names: G. X. Wheat, William Ellingham,
Joseph 7. Norton, Eugene List, William
Hoge, G. F. Zorn, Solomon Kraus. I sup.